EMMA Capital, the Czech investment fund controlled by billionaire Jiří Šmejc, is reportedly discussing taking over the Romanian natural gas producer Stratum Energy, according to Ziarul Financiar quoting converging sources familiar with the talks.
The unit would add to EMMA’s operations in Romania conducted through Premier Energy in the sectors of natural gas supply and distribution, green electricity generation, and electricity supply.
The deal is reportedly already on the table of the Competition Council.
Stratum Energy Romania is one of the small-sized natural gas producers in Romania, with a turnover of RON 280 million (EUR 56 million) and losses of RON 55 million (EUR 11 million) in 2022. Its activities are carried out in the Poduri field, Moineşti (Bacău County).
Premier Energy, one of the companies in EMMA Capital’s portfolio dealing with natural gas distribution and supply until that date, has strengthened its position in Romania after it took over the energy supplier CEZ Vânzare (1.2 million consumers of a total of 9 million in the country) at the end of last year.
Beyond the classic natural gas supply and distribution business, Premier Energy has taken a step towards green energy production, the intention being to become a vertical business platform integrated into the energy sector, with a focus on sustainability.
Premier Energy manages a network of 2,500km of gas pipelines, and in recent years, it has had a growth rate of about 200km per year.
iulian@romania-insider.com
(Photo source: Sasa Maricic/Dreamstime.com)
